Page 10 of Protecting Andie

The officer looked between them then settled his gaze on Andie. “He probably wanted to scare you.”

Rider grunted. “He was dragging her away from her car. He was going to do more than just scare her.”

Rider’s words made a shiver slide down her back. Tony had meant her harm. He wouldn’t have stopped with just scaring her. He meant to kidnap her and do something awful.

She put her hand on Rider’s arm. “Thank you.”

“What were you doing out here, sir?” the officer asked.

“Working out.”

“Again?” Andie asked.

His lips tipped up just a little before he nodded. “I needed to wear myself out so I could get some sleep.”

The officer glanced around and pointed in the direction of the jogging loop and picnic area. “So you were over there.”

“Yes, sir. I was in the middle of my workout and heard screaming.”

“And you ran over? What made you think you could help?”

“He’s Navy,” Andie said as she patted his shoulder.

The officer narrowed his gaze like he didn’t believe her. She wanted to defend Rider, but the officer shrugged and wrote something in his notepad.

The officer frowned. “This guy seems like a real jerk. I’m not sure how long we’ll be able to hold him. Maybe have someone with you at all times. Don’t come out here at night. I know you shouldn’t have to hide and change what you’re doing, but that man is not right in the head.”

“Do you think he’ll get out soon?” Rider asked.

“We’ll take him downtown and see if we can hold him for a few days before the judge grants bail. I’ll keep you both informed. I just need your contact information.”

Rider was thankful he’d shown up when he had. If he’d been inside trying to sleep instead of out here working out, who knows what could have happened to Andie.

He would have to be her shadow this week. No question, he couldn’t allow her to hang out on her own. It was too dangerous. He also needed to contact his buddies and see if they could get a bead on the jerk. Maybe there were pressures he could use against the guy. All he knew was he had to keep Andie safe because he needed to know she was having a good life, even if it wasn’t with him.

7

The next morning, Andie didn’t know if she was sore because of the workout or the attack. No question, Rider had saved her. She owed him. He had driven her to an urgent care location for a CT scan and stayed with her. They hadn’t returned to the hotel until midnight, and it was still dark outside. She would need a nap later.

Rider had insisted on sleeping on her couch. She’d told him it wasn’t necessary, but he wouldn’t leave her alone.

By the time she finished in the bathroom, the scent of coffee was driving her wild. She’d brought her small Keurig from home so she could get coffee on demand. Had he fixed her coffee? Would he even know what to put in it?

She opened the door, surprised to find him showered and dressed in fresh clothes. He looked good, like he wasn’t sleep deprived though he had been up half the night with her. He set the mug of coffee on the table and flashed her a huge smile.

“I made you coffee. Derik came over and sat in here while I showered.”

She narrowed her eyes. Was this a joke? “Did you really make me coffee?”

“Yes.”

She stared at the mug, noticing the liquid in the mug was the color she liked it. She imagined Rider drank his black. “How did you know how I like it?”

“I asked Emily.”

Andie picked up the mug and took a sip. It was perfect. He had gotten it exactly right. No man had ever gotten her coffee right. “You did it right.”

His eyebrows shot up like he was expressing the fact he knew it would be right. Of course, a man like Rider got it right. He cared enough to know what she liked and fix things that way for her, at least he’d gotten her coffee correct. Maybe he wouldn’t get anything else right.

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